17 Dead Due to Mysterious Illness in Rajouri Village, Jammu & Kashmir; MHA Launches Probe

33
529

Kashmir: The village of Badhal in Rajouri district, Jammu & Kashmir, is reeling from the deaths of 17 people attributed to a mysterious illness that has confounded medical experts and investigators. The illness, which first emerged on December 7, 2024, has claimed the lives of multiple villagers, with the most severe impact on Mohammad Aslam’s family, which lost eight members, including his parents and six children.

In response to the growing crisis, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has dispatched an 11-member Inter-Ministerial team to investigate the cause of the deaths. The team arrived in Rajouri on January 19, and just after their arrival, the death toll increased to 17 following the passing of a minor girl, Yasmeen, at SMGS Hospital in Jammu. Yasmeen had been battling the illness for several days on a ventilator before succumbing to the disease.

The authorities are exploring various angles, including potential criminal involvement. The Jammu & Kashmir Police have set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe possible conspiracies. Although suspects have been questioned and their mobile data analyzed, no significant leads have emerged thus far. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha expressed hope that the ongoing investigations would soon reveal the cause of the fatalities.

In a related development, local authorities are investigating a possible link between the disease and contamination of the village’s water spring, known as ‘Bawli.’ Water samples from the spring tested positive for pesticides and insecticides, leading authorities to seal the source and restrict public access. Experts from the Indian Institute of Virology, PGI Chandigarh, and AIIMS Delhi have identified traces of neurotoxins in the victims but ruled out viral or bacterial infections as the cause. Symptoms such as fever and excessive sweating have been reported among those affected.

Neurotoxins, which interfere with the nervous system, are commonly found in substances like pesticides, heavy metals, and even certain food additives like monosodium glutamate.

33 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here